AT OUR AGM on Thursday 2nd March we welcomed FOUR new trustees to our board for the next three years. Our trustees are responsible for thinking through and putting into practice plans which will develop the Open Table Network (OTN).

LAST SATURDAY, 16-year-old trans girl Brianna Ghey was found with stab wounds in a village park near Warrington, and sadly died. Two 15-year-olds have been charged with her murder. Our Open Table community leaders grieve for her loss and offer support to the town’s LGBTQIA+ community.

BRITAIN’S FOURTH LARGEST Christian denomination has hosted an online event to explore how to safely welcome LGBT+ people in its churches. Among the speakers was OTN trustee Revd Dr Augustine Tanner-Ihm, who spoke passionately about the intersection of being LGBT+ and from an ethnic minority background.

FEBRUARY 1st is the feast of St Brigid of Kildare, a prophetic figure to whom the church where the first Open Table community began is dedicated. Today we are sharing the story of Brigid and her ‘soul friend’ and claiming them as patrons of our growing partnership of LGBTQIA-affirming Christian communities.

THANKS to 86 generous donors our Advent & Christmas Crowdfunder appeal raised more than £3,000! This was almost two-thirds (65%) of our £5,000 target.

MORE THAN 170 LGBT+ affirming organisations have signed a statement in support of the Gender Recognition Reform (Scotland) Bill which the UK Government is attempting to block. OTN is one of the signatories urging the PM to treat trans people with respect.

AS AN LGBT+ affirming Christian charity, we welcome the news that the Irish government intends to ban so-called ‘conversion therapy’ which attempts to change or suppress someone’s sexual orientation or gender identity. We have worked in partnership with others to call on the UK Government to do the same, and will continue to do so.

THIS CHRISTMAS, for the first time, the Open Table Network worked in partnership with other LGBT+-inclusive organisations and churches to bring Big Queer Carols to four cities across England and Wales.

THE COLLEGE OF BISHOPS, which includes all serving bishops in the Church of England, held its second three-day meeting this week to continue discerning a way forward on questions of identity, sexuality, relationships and marriage. They were joined by members of the Living In Love & Faith Reference Group, including OTN Co-Chair Sarah Hobbs.

A VIDEO featuring six senior religious leaders has been released to promote six Safeguarding Principles that aim to ensure the safety of LGBT+ people in religious communities.

TODAY YOU CAN HELP support LGBTQIA+ people to find a safe, welcoming community where they can thrive. We're launching our Advent Appeal, following the four weekly themes - Hope, Peace, Joy, and Love.

THIS CHRISTMAS, the joy is too much for London to contain and Big Queer Carols is getting bigger, with three new partner churches in England and Wales. The churches we're working with are committed to fairness, equity, and affirmation - and we're inviting you to join us!

AS A PARTNERSHIP of inclusive Christian organisations, we welcome the publication of Together in Love and Faith by the Bishop of Oxford and acknowledge the step forward that it represents in the journey towards full inclusion and affirmation of LGBTQ+ people in the Church of England.

THE TITLE of this article came from one of the 18 community consultations we’ve hosted since October 2021 with churches exploring the need for an Open Table community in their area. During these meetings we ask what are the qualities of the experience they would want to share with others if they host an Open Table community.

A YEAR AGO on National Coming Out Day, we launched a six-week crowdfunding campaign to raise £10,000 to bridge the gap between our budget as a new small charity and the growing demand for our support. This year, we’ve never been busier - please share about, and consider giving to, or fundraising for, OTN if you are able. Thank you!

SUNDAY WORSHIP on BBC Radio 4 this week was recorded at the annual HeartEdge Conference, which hosted the final of the 2022 Theology Slam, a competition that invites young people to reflect on contemporary issues through theology, scripture and tradition. The service incorporated the talks from all three finalists including OTN Co-Chair Alex Clare-Young.

THIS OCTOBER, St Bride’s Church in Liverpool is celebrating the contribution of the Lesbian Gay Bisexual and Transgender (LGBT+) communities past and present. Celebrations kick off with a special communion service on Sunday 16th October at 6.30pm led by the Revd Dr Ash Barker.

TODAY marks the second anniversary of the Coordinator of the Open Table Network taking on the role full-time, thanks to the success of our first major funding bid. Here we review highlights of our last 12 months, thanks to your support.

EACH YEAR International Day Of Peace is observed on 21st September. The UN has declared this as a day devoted to strengthening the ideals of peace, through observing 24 hours of non-violence and cease-fire. But achieving true peace also requires building communities where all members feel they can flourish, creating a world where all people are treated equally. This is what we aspire to do in our Open Table communities.

AUGUSTINE TANNER-IHM will share a short video to introduce the theme of this year’s conference on embracing diversity hosted by Gathering Voices, a collaboration of Christian organisations that encourage churches to be fully inclusive and affirming of all people without regard of gender and sexuality.